The growing incidence of type 2 diabetes and obesity has become a worldwide crisis with increased socio-economic burden. Changes in lifestyle and food habits resulting in dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and low-grade inflammation are linked to the rising incidence. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of potential probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum MCC2759 and MCC2760 on intestinal markers of inflammation using a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed model and a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model. Lact. fermentum administration showed improved oral glucose tolerance compared with the model controls of HFD (AUC 1518) and STZ (628.8). Plasma insulin levels improved in the Lact. fermentum treated groups of HFD + MCC2759 (129 ± 4.24 pmol/L) and HFD + MCC2760 (151.5 ± 9.19 pmol/L) in HFD study, while in STZ diabetic study, the insulin levels were normalized with Lact. fermentum administration, for D + MCC2759 (120.5 ± 7.77) and D + MCC2760 (138 ± 5.65 pmol/L) groups. The results showed reduction in inflammatory tone in liver, muscle, and adipose tissues of rats in both models with stimulation of anti-inflammatory IL-10 by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, the potential probiotic cultures also displayed normalization of markers related to intestinal barrier integrity (ZO-1), TLR-4 receptor, and insulin sensitivity (GLUT-4, GLP-1, adiponectin). Thus, the results suggest that Lact. fermentum could act as potential probiotic for lifestyle-related disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome as both prophylactic and adjunct therapies.

Oleoresins are a mixture of volatile and nonvolatile components of concentrated forms of wholesome products. Even though there are several reports on the effect of spice or spice components on Alzheimer’s disease, there are no studies on the effect of spice oleoresins. Hence, this study investigates the effect of pepper, chili, and turmeric oleoresins in Alzheimer’s type of cognitive impairment in the rat model. The animals were grouped into six groups with six animals in each. They were (i) normal, (ii) scopolamine, (iii) scopolamine + pepper oleoresin, (iv) scopolamine + turmeric oleoresin, (v) scopolamine + chili oleoresin and (vi) scopolamine + donepezil for 13 days. Learning memory and acquisition memory were evaluated by a Morris water maze, and the locomotor activity was assessed by an actophotometer. Biochemical parameters such as AChE, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were studied. The brain histology was also studied. The scopolamine treatment significantly (P < 0.05) elevated the locomotor activity and escape latency time and reduced the time spent in the target quadrant, which was reversed in the case of the oleoresin treatment. Scopolamine-mediated changes in AChE, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were improved after the treatment with oleoresins. Among the three oleoresins, chili oleoresin were the most effective in behavioral activity, brain biomarkers, and recovery of antioxidant capacities when compared to the drug treatment. Chili and pepper oleoresins improved the protection against hippocampal damage. These oleoresins can be potent preventive/therapeutic agents against Alzheimer’s disease. This study confirms the effect of spice oleoresins in Alzheimer’s disease condition.

Polyphenols act by scavenging reactive oxygen species during oxidative stress and hence are useful in the treatment of metabolic disorders including diabetes. This study describes the effect of polyphenol rich mulberry and jamun wines fed to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. To male adult Wistar rats, divided into groups (n = 10 per group) intraperitoneal injection was administered with streptozotocin at 38 mg per kg body weight for inducing diabetes. After confirmation of diabetes, rats divided into groups were fed each day with 5.7 milliliter per kg body weight of mulberry, jamun, white and red grape wines for 6 weeks. One group of animals received resveratrol at 20 mg per kg body weight. After six weeks of treatment, blood glucose, urinary profile, lipid profile, plasma, liver, kidney, brain and eye antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and hepatic glutathione (GSH) content were determined. Though wine and resveratrol feeding did not improve the glycemic status of diabetic rats, increases in antioxidant enzymes and GSH content accompanied by reduced NEFA and lipid peroxidation were observed. The kidneys and brains of resveratrol fed rats showed significant reduction in malondialdehyde equivalents, exhibited an improved antioxidant status of tissues and an increased glutathione content. The findings suggested that the wines can ameliorate the consequences of diabetes due to their antioxidants.

To understand the spread of SARS-CoV2, in August and September 2020, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India), conducted a sero-survey across its constituent laboratories and centers across India. Of 10,427 volunteers, 1058 (10.14%) tested positive for SARS CoV2 anti-nucleocapsid (anti-NC) antibodies; 95% of which had surrogate neutralization activity. Three-fourth of these recalled no symptoms. Repeat serology tests at 3 (n=607) and 6 (n=175) months showed stable anti-NC antibodies but declining neutralization activity. Local sero-positivity was higher in densely populated cities and was inversely correlated with a 30 day change in regional test positivity rates (TPR). Regional seropositivity above 10% was associated with declining TPR. Personal factors associated with higher odds of sero-positivity were high-exposure work (Odds Ratio, 95% CI, p value; 2∙23, 1∙92–2∙59, <0.0001), use of public transport (1∙79, 1∙43–2∙24, <0.0001), not smoking (1∙52, 1∙16–1∙99, 0∙0257), non-vegetarian diet (1∙67, 1∙41–1∙99, <0.0001), and B blood group (1∙36,1∙15-1∙61, 0∙001).